Arteta’s Protégé. For Whom The Bell Tolls.

“The diminutive Spaniard” is so talented that he made the transition from an attack-oriented midfielder to a stay-at-home, deep lying defensive guardian almost seamlessly. It is clear the deep respect Arsene holds for him. Arteta has been “Wenger-On-The-Pitch” for his time at Arsenal, translating the game plan dynamically on the field. And The Word was made flesh.

Of course, outsiders never got Arteta. Invariably they would talk about how we needed someone else, someone who could win tackles.

And remember this gem of irony from The Sun, on Michael Carrick, The Baron of Bland…

The one that told us how “unsung” poor little Michael Carrick was. All the while ignoring Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta. Arteta wasn’t just unsung. He wasn’t even hummed.

But, at some stage in the near future, Arteta’s days as a starter will be well and truly over. And he must pass the baton to his new protégé.

Speaking of his protégé, we’ve been lucky and Arsene has been lucky to stumble upon and trip over an Arteta-replacement hidden in our squad. While the world has urged him to import a top talent, Wenger has resisted for whatever reasons. And through good fortune and patience he has stumbled on a newer, younger model to replace the aging Arteta.

It would seem almost impossible to replace the exact mix of talents that Mikel brings to the position.

Coquelin provides extra bite in the tackle, extra appetite for the interception, an imposing physical impact. But Arteta must find ways to pass onto his true heir the calm, poise, control, faultless passing and simplicity. Allied to that is his tactical understanding, leadership, and even penalty taking. Also his Spanishness.

A tough task and a long list, you might think. Ridiculous and unreasonable. How can you ask Coquelin to be that which he is not. Well, you don’t. You ask the guy standing beside him. Santi “The Protégé” Cazorla.

Let’s be honest. Is there anything Cazorla can’t do? Let’s start with the big stuff. He’s already extremely Spanish and he’s absolutely adorable. At least as adorable as Mikel, and probably more Spanishy.

He is a many-capped International in the era of Xavi, Iniesta, Silva and Busquets. 73 appearances in one of the all-time great National Teams, while they won the European Cup and the world Cup.

He already takes our penalties.

He has Wenger’s deepest respect and trust.

He has a superb attitude, a never-say-die mentality.

He is humble, a consummate professional, and he loves football.

And did I mention he’s adorable?

Like Mikel, he has perfect touch with his small, soft feet, possibly achieved through the cruel and barbarous foot-binding practice of the ancient Chinese. But well-worth it, in the end.

Mikel is good with both feet. Santi only has one foot which he swaps from ankle to ankle with blinding quickness as he runs.

Arsene Wenger, when asked about his player of the year:

“Santi Cazorla played over 50 games and from the start to the finish he was absolutely top. Maybe with the quality and the consistency included from start to finish, it’s Cazorla who has stood out the most.

“He had a few games where he was unplayable. I do not look too much at his individual brilliance.

“He makes the others around him good and that’s an outstanding quality for a midfielder.”

It seems a much smaller task for Santi to become the new Arteta than for Coquelin. Cazorla simply needs time behind the wheel to resolve the last few short-comings. The tackling and intercepting stuff. But he already seems rather promising at those, in an Arteta-style intelligence-over-brawn approach, where 2 men go into a tackle but only Santi and the ball emerge.

And more time in the role should allow for greater positional discipline, better decision-making combined with excellent two-footed distribution from the back, and the glorious sight of Santi pinging cross-field diagonals left and right with either leg.

You might say that Santi doesn’t have the attributes required to take that step into becoming the most defensive midfielder on the pitch. But then you and I would have said the same about Arteta once.

Could this be in Wenger’s thinking? That Coquelin’s backup will not be a new DM, or even a patched up Arteta? But an evolving Santi, who, given his robust fitness, will go on to be the new Arteta for the next 3-4 years?

Some matches we will line up with Coq and Santi sitting deepest. Some matches we will line up with Santi and Ramsey (or Jack.) It’s how we lined up against Sunderland at the end of the season. I think that part of the formation did ok. But the team only really got into gear when Theo came on. Then we looked deadly.

But if you want to know who our cover for Coq is next season, “Ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for Santi.”

Always a good read, poz. Arteta, a favourite of mine, can be on the coaching staff soon. Respected, recent players can make a big difference to the training group. And of course we all love Santi and to keep him also is essential, whatever his role.

It’s been way too long, Poznan, you naughty little man. Insightful, intelligent and hilarious. Love your podcasts as well. And you are great on Twitter. (This is me competing with Ray from Norfolk, Virginia for my place in your starting 11.)
Arteta AND Cazorla. Arsene, you are spoiling us.

You know what I think, which is a bit mad? That Oxo could be a Coq/Santi hybrid in years to come. Yeah, ok, I know. Just putting it out there.

What a great read this was!! (as always) I’m with you in regards to Arteta – I love the guy and have for a long long time and I was over joyed when he came to Arsenal he has been fantastic for us and I will say again he came to Arsenal FREE!!!! I get your point about Santi as well and you are likely right – he is probably the best bet for being the next Arteta when he leaves, hopefully he will stay at the club in some capacity I am sure he has lots more to give even if its not on the field! Keep em coming Poz Man always enjoy reading your stuff

Thanks Mary. Lovely welcome back from you!
More than anything I love to see how a brilliant and versatile player like Santi can evolve to play at a top level as he matures. He’s family now.
Hope Arteta powers back and has at least 1 more great season with us.

Entertaining & insightful as always. It suggests that even without Arteta playing a full role, we have five first-choice players for the two CM positions (Coq, Santi, Ramsey, Jack, Ox), or 10 combinations. Add Rosicky for good measure. With those options, the addition of Vidal or Schneiderlin seems like a low priority.

Was wondering if Wenger actually wants Cazorla to become the next Arteta in a positional sense? Arteta would rarely venture forward and remained deep. It worked well for us when he played that role because he sort of played a mix-and-match between Coq and Santi like you mentioned and he didn’t really have much support. He was perfect at passing the ball out from deep; I think it’s something that’s highly underestimated and it was only apparent when Arteta would be out injured.

However, Santi playing slightly deep and advancing has also worked for us. The passing the ball out from deep seems to have become Mertesacker’s role to some extent now if Santi is advanced, or Santi does it; offering us a bit more flexibility? At the moment Coquelin plays a role in helping Mertesacker play the ball out by taking players away from him; maybe even Coquelin will be trusted enough to play the ball out. In other words, we have more options now from an Arteta-role perspective.

Sure Santi doesn’t have the exact defensive discipline of Arteta yet, but will he NEED to develop it? Personally I think Wenger, especially with the emergence of Coq, has tweaked his system that doesn’t quite require the Arteta-role. Doesn’t mean Arteta cannot play, only from a positional sense.

Wonderful as always. I’ll appreciate deeply if you can write an article on the lovely work Mertesacker has put in as regards our defense and ball distribution from the back. Also Poz i think we don’t need a new striker, rather a goal scoring winger like Sanchez. All the big teams make use of those sort of player. Teams like Bayern, Barca, Madrid, even Chelsea. Rarely we find such Henrique kind of striker available. I look forward to knowing your thoughts on this.